Ragging And RTI

(First published, after having received the assent of the Governor in the "Maharashtra Government Gazette", on the 15May 1999.) (Important features)

1) Short title and commencement

This Act maybe called the Maharashtra Prohibition of Ragging Act, 1999.

It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

2) Definitions

"educational institution" means and includes a college, or other institution by whatever name called, carrying on the activity or imparting education therein (either exclusively or among other activities); and includes an orphanage or a boarding home or hostel or a tutorial institution or any other premises attached thereto;

"head of the educational institution" means the Vice-Chancellor of the University, dean of Medical Faculty, Director of the Institution or the Principal, headmaster or the person responsible for the management of the educational institution;

"ragging" means display of disorderly conduct, doing of any act which causes or is likely to cause physical psychological harm or raise apprehension or fear or shame or embarrassment to a student in any educational institution and includes (i) teasing, abusing, threatening or playing practical jokes on, or causing hurt to, such student ;or(ii) Asking a student to do any act or perform something which such student will not, in the ordinary course, willingly, do.

3) Prohibition of ragging

Ragging within or outside of any educational institution is prohibited.

4) Penalty for ragging

Whoever directly or indirectly commits, participates in, abets or propagates ragging within or outside any education institution shall ,on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years and shall also be liable to a fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees.

5) Dismissal of student

Any student convicted of an offence under section4 shall be dismissed from the educational institution and such student shall not be admitted in another educational institution for a period of five years from the date of order of such dismissal.

6) Suspension of student

Whenever any student or, as the case may be, the parent or guardian, or a teacher of an educational institution complains, in writing, of ragging to the head of the educational institution, the head of that educational institution shall, without prejudice to the foregoing provisions, within seven days of the receipt of the complaint, enquire into the matter mentioned in the complaint and if; prima facie, it is found true, suspend the student who is accused of the offence, and shall ,immediately forward the complaint to the police station having jurisdiction over the area in which the educational institution is situated, for flirter action.

Where, on enquiry by the head of the educational institution, it is proved that there is no substance, prima facie, in the complaint received under sub-section (1), he shall intimate the fact, in writing, to the complainant.

The decision of the head of the educational institution that the student has indulged in-ragging under sub-section (1), shall be final

7) Deemed abetment

If the head of the educational institution fails or neglects to take action in the manner specified in section 6 when a complaint of ragging is made, such person shall be deemed to have abetted the offence of ragging arid shall, on conviction, be punished as provided for in section4. Power to make rules